Jim Penman just replaced himself with Australia's first AI CEO - AI Jim
Announcement posted by Invigorate PR 12 Jun 2025
Jim Penman, founder and head of the Jim's Group, the Southern Hemisphere's largest franchise network, has just taken an extraordinary step: replacing himself as CEO with an artificial intelligence version of himself.
Trained on nearly a million words of Jim's books, podcasts, interviews and speeches, the newly launched AI Jim is now live and ready to engage with anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.jimpenman.com.au and jims.net/chat-with-ai-jim, Jim's AI is designed to respond just like the man himself - direct, curious, passionate and unmistakably Jim.
According to Jim, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to embrace AI technology to drive efficiency, improve service and expand accessibility.
"AI is a powerful tool with the potential to improve service and cut costs in many areas of business," Jim Penman said.
"We are actively working on applications in many areas including internal processes, social media and communication with clients and potential franchisees.
"AI Jim helps prospective franchisees understand our culture and the way the system works. At any time, they can jump on to our site and chat with an AI version of me to ask any questions and find out any information about the Jim's Group."
Penman added that AI Jim is about increasing accessibility and transparency for anyone dealing with the group because that is how service delivery and franchising should be - easy, honest and accessible.
With some 5,r00 franchisees under the Jim's Group umbrella and demand for constant support, Penman said the idea came from a desire to be available 24 hours a day without physically burning out.
"As CEO, I'm available by phone and email all the time, but I'm still just one person. I am supported by an amazing team at the Jim's Group, but many people want to talk with me. So, we've created an AI version of me to ensure people can get guidance instantly, any time they need it," he said.
The move marks the first known instance of a company founder in Australia formally deploying an AI version of themselves as a public-facing executive figure. Jim's AI CEO is capable of answering questions about franchising, business culture, systems and life philosophy in real time, just like Jim would.
While the human Jim isn't going anywhere, he sees AI as a way to extend the values of the business further than ever before.
"This is not about replacing human connection, it's about enhancing it," Penman said.
"Jim's has always been about service, support and systems. AI helps us deliver that at scale, while staying true to our roots."
With future updates already planned and integration into more Jim's services on the horizon, Jim's AI could soon become the gold standard for how AI and franchise leadership combine in the digital age.
About Jim's Group
Jim's Group was founded in 1989 and is now the largest franchise chain in Australia and New Zealand, With some 5,500 franchisees in mowing, cleaning, dog wash, pest control, building inspections and forty plus other divisions.
Ph: 131 546